Hit-and-run roadside alerts become law in Colorado

Colorado's governor has signed what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind bill creating statewide roadside alerts for hit-and-run crashes.

The legislation signed Tuesday creates an Amber Alert-style notification system when authorities are looking for vehicles involved in serious hit-and-run crashes.

The system includes quickly alerting the media and issuing bulletins on electronic highway signs that describe the fleeing vehicles. It will be implemented next year.

Supporters call them "Medina Alerts," after 21-year-old valet worker Jose Medina, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Denver three years ago.

Denver and Aurora already have citywide Medina Alerts, created by former police officer Larry Stevenson. During the two years they've been in place, there have been 17 alerts that resulted in 13 cases being solved.

Stevenson says Colorado's law sets up the first statewide hit-and-run alert system. But he says other states are interested in following suit.